Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

What Is It?

A transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a mini-stroke, is an episode of stroke-like symptoms that usually last less than one hour. During a TIA, circulation to a part of the brain is interrupted briefly, then restored. This interruption can be caused by a narrowing of a brain artery because of atherosclerosis or a small floating blood clot that entered the bloodstream from somewhere else in the body, often the heart, and temporarily blocked a brain artery.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a TIA are the same as those of stroke. The old standard uses a 24 hour cut off – symptoms that completely resolve within 24 hours have been defined as a TIA, while symptoms that last longer are called a stroke. A more realistic and practical time frame for a TIA is less than one hour. Most TIAs actually last only 5 to 20 minutes.

These symptoms can include:

• Dizziness or confusion

• Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body

• Sudden, severe numbness in any part of the body

• Visual disturbance, including sudden loss of vision

• Difficulty walking, including staggering or veering

• Coordination problems in the arms and hands

• Slurred speech or inability to speak